Tag Archives: termites

We Can Help You Recognize the Signs of Termites on Your Home Before Things Are Beyond Repair.

When it comes to repairs to your home, one issue can be attributed to a tiny insect – termites. These pests have a voracious appetite for wood that can lead to major problems and leave you with costly repairs.

Signs of Termites

There are several telltale signs that your home has termites setting up residence and are dining on it every day. The following are a few things to look for when doing a visual inspection.

– Holes: Check wood fittings around doors, windowsills, decks, steps, wood paneling, wood floors, doors, or any other wood-based structure for tiny round holes about the size of the head of a nail.

– Cracks: Check all areas for cracks in the wood. Termites eat from the inside out, so instead of holes you may see a series of dry cracks and crevices. Wood that has been eaten by termites is easy to puncture. You can also tap it. If it sounds hollow, most likely termites have been chewing away.

– Droppings: Check around wood areas for a fine powdery substance that resembles sawdust. This fine dust may be droppings from drywood termites.

– Mud tubes: If you see small tunnels, these are termite subways into your home.

If you think your home is at risk, our NJ pest control company can eradicate a termite infestation. For an inspection, contact Allison Pest. Professional technicians at our NJ pest control company are standing by.

Termites are among the most dreaded pests that homeowners deal with. These wood-eating insects are one of the top reasons for hiring Monmouth County pest control services. Despite the trouble they cause, though, termites are actually fascinating bugs.

Termite History

Researchers haven’t fully determined just how long termites have been around. Some termite fossils date back to the early Cretaceous period, which was 145 to 166 million years ago. However, scientists also have reason to believe that termites have been around since the early Jurassic period, which occurred from 145 to 201 million years ago. Either way, termites have been here for a very long time compared to humans and other mammals.

Termite Evolution

Scientists have found evidence that termites are close relatives of wood-eating cockroaches. Some researchers have even argued that termites should be considered a highly specialized type of wood-eating cockroach. Just like their cousins, termites are widespread and have managed to form colonies in many parts of the world. In fact, these pests are found on every continent except Antarctica. These pests are typically found in warmer climates throughout the world.

Termites can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time. If you have these pests in your home, contact us for Monmouth County pest control services. At Allison Pest Control, our experts will eliminate termites from your home safely and efficiently.

Termites are one of the top reasons for homeowners to call pest control companies in New Jersey, but in some cases, these pests turn out to be carpenter ants instead. Carpenter ants and termites have several characteristics in common, so it’s easy to confuse the two. If you end up with carpenter ants instead of termites, do you still need help?

Amount of Damage

Carpenter ants and termites both cause damage to homes. The difference is that termites eat wood, while carpenter ants hollow it out as they build nests. Carpenter ants can still cause a significant amount of damage to wood in your home, which can lead to expensive repairs. In the most severe cases, your home could become dangerous to live in due to structural problems caused by carpenter ants.

When and Where Damage Occurs

Carpenter ants are usually only a problem during spring and summer, while termites can be a problem throughout the year. Carpenter ants and termites can both infest any areas of wood inside the home, which makes it important to call an exterminator as soon as possible. Otherwise, you could end up with serious damage to your home.

If you have carpenter ants or termites in your home, you need help from a professional pest control company in New Jersey. Give Allison Pest Control a call, and we’ll handle your ant or termite problem for you.

Get Allison Pest Control to install professional termite bait stations around your home or building.

Using bait stations is among the most effective ways to get rid of termites for more than one reason. In addition to eliminating the original colony, baiting can also destroy a neighboring colony. That helps reduce the risk of having the neighboring colony take over when the original is destroyed.

A recent study showed that when Formosan termites are exposed to food-laden bait, invading colonies are at risk also. This is the case with subterranean termites in our area too. The original colony first takes the bait and is killed off. When a neighboring colony invades this territory, they’re also exposed to the same bait and subsequently destroyed.

This research could lead to improved methods of eliminating Formosan termites, which are a notoriously difficult species to control. Their large numbers and widespread colonies make it tough to handle infestations. Using bait to destroy more than one colony could be the key to ensuring that this species doesn’t continue causing problems for homeowners.

If you have subterranean termites or any other termites in your home, you’re going to need help from professional pest control companies in New Jersey. Otherwise, you could be stuck dealing with these pests for years run a high risk of significant damage to your home.

When you have a termite problem, you need reliable help from pest control companies in New Jersey to make sure they’re gone. Contact Allison Pest Control, and we’ll provide you with safe, prompt and effective termite control in NJ.

Termites are among the worst of pests, and they give pest control companies in New Jersey plenty to do. Although termites can wreak havoc on residential buildings, they exhibit some fascinating behaviors, as some researchers have recently discovered.

Soft Footsteps

Ants are the main predators that termites have to worry about. As a result, termites have learned to walk very softly in order to hide their presence from ants while foraging. Termites also have very sharp hearing, which makes it easy for them to hear the much louder footsteps of nearby ants.

Head-banging Behavior

Researchers in Australia have also discovered that termites perform a head-banging behavior when ants are around. This is believed to be a way for termites to sound the alarm that these predators are nearby. When termites bang their heads, this sound mimics the sound of heavier ant footsteps.

Termites might be good at hiding from ants, but they’re even better at staying hidden within homes. If you suspect you have termites, it’s crucial to have an inspection done. If termites are found, you’ll need to have them removed from home as quickly as possible before they cause extensive damage.

When you have termites in your home, it’s time to start looking for a New Jersey pest control company. Contact Allison Pest Control, and we’ll provide you with safe and effective termite control for your home.

While these wood-destroying insects keep NJ termite extermination professionals in high demand, they do offer some benefits in terms of research.

Scientists are studying termite digestion in order to improve biofuel production.

Termite Digestion

Termites have tiny organisms called protists inside them, along with bacteria. Scientists wanted to understand the relationship between these organisms better when it comes to the digestive process.

What they discovered is that protists undergo changes in response to different materials that termites eat, while bacteria remain the same.

In fact, the gene sequences of both the termite hosts and protists changed. Researchers are using these findings to better understand which specific genes play a role in digestion.

This research will help scientists determine which enzymes are responsible for breaking down woody matter.

Biofuel Production

When scientists find the enzymes they’re looking for, these enzymes have the potential to help them figure out more effective ways to break biomass down and remove sugars when biofuel is produced. This may lead to more efficient biofuel production.

Although termites are contributing to important research, they’re still mainly pests that can cause serious damage to homes and businesses.

Are termites causing problems in your NJ home? Contact Allison Pest Control to learn more about our NJ termite extermination services, so you can make sure your home is free of these pests.